There has been some “noise” out there about our continuing efforts
at opening public beach access #4 at Perdido Key. Typical nonsensical noise that is not
grounded in reality with respect to an email that was put our last Thursday
from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. So here come the realities….
And as it pertains to Kristi from USFW –the person who sent
Thursday’s email--I spoke to her at length on Thursday afternoon and she
confirmed what we all know--Escambia County CAN do both habitat
conservation AND public access, so long as we follow an approved plan
which I also confirmed Thursday, in writing, with Tim Day.
One person is inaccurately portraying this citizen-driven
push to #OpenOurBeach as an either/or, binary choice (Mouse Conservation OR
Public Access) which it is not.
Yes, the beach access at Perdido Key is moving forward--and
for reasons that are unclear, this really, really, really irritates one person
in particular. Tim (Day) is working it, an engineer has been hired and engaged
to design it, and we have a pot of money from which to fund it, and I believe
there will be 4 votes to finish it. And I reiterate--doing this is good for the
mouse. What we have been doing, which is nothing, has not been good
for the mouse.
Doing what we have been doing (nothing, just maintaining a
comfortable status quo that only benefited nearby condo owners who used this
publicly funded beach as their own "private beach") has been
detrimental to the mice as no fencing prevents beach users from walking from
the beach toward Perdido Key Drive, trampling all over the dunes, leaving trash
and rubbish in their wake. The only fencing on the property is the fencing that
kept you, the taxpayers who bought this property, from accessing this property
with your cars. That's why we are going to #OpenOurBeach and have a big party on the beach this
summer when we get it done!
Good Job, Commissioner! I'm glad someone from the Board other than Doug finally conversed with Ms. Yanchis concerning the ability to open this parcel up, while taking protective measures for the Beach Mouse. Doug Underhill has always maintained it was NOT possible to do both. It's kind of like his proclamation that OLF8 was only worth 4.5 million...... totally out of touch with reality! Thanks to you, Commissioner Barry, Commissioner Robinson, and Commissioner May for directing staff to complete what should have been done over 4 years ago.
ReplyDelete"People who are that easily offended or frightened should stay home sucking their thumbs."
ReplyDelete--Doug Underhill
The hearing is April 23. Please verify this: The RESTORE Multi year plan submitted to the Treasury Department is not for 10 million on the Perdido access is it? These projects underwent a through vetting, scoring, ranking. Then of course the board voted on projects they each wanted Two per commissioner. The plan was submitted. True or False One of the Perdido projects was for 10 million for Beach Access. It looks like was approved specifically for Access number 4. Are lies by a member of your board being told publicly? If this was already submitted to the US Treasury Department what does that day about that being in the record? Will you all attempt to circumvent the MYIP.
ReplyDelete